Die-casting machine



R. T. McGEE.

m5 CASTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1920.

1,360,771 Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- ATTORNEY,

R. T. McGEE.

DIE CASTING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR l0, 1920. 1 0 771 Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

3 $HEETSSHEET 2.

- ATTORNEY R. T. McGEE.

DIE CASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 1920.

'1 60,771. Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 57 firm/PM" unrren STATES PATENT orrice.

RICHARD T. McGEE, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

DIE-CASTING macnfun.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

Application filed March 10, 1920. Serial No. 1364,7824

' Casting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to metal casting apparatus, and more particularly to a mechanism for producing small castings of aluminum and other metals.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for'casting the metal slugs employed in the production of collapsible tubes, the caps for such tubes and the like.

A further object is to provide a continuously operating machine or apparatus whereby castings of the character mentioned may be rapidly produced in an efficient and wholly automatic manner. 7

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fully d,escribed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view, partially in broken section, illustrating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation;

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of a mold;

Fig. 4 is a section .on line 4-4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5, Fig. 2, showing the collars on the column;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of said collars;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation of the oscillating arm and its mounting; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail View of a splined pinion, partly in broken section.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating'characters distinguish like parts throughout the several viewsr 1 indicates generally a furnace of the character disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 331,002, for patent for mold charging device, and 2 thediaphragmdepressing plunger which operates in the fluid-metal receptacle of said device for ejecting the molten metal to and through a conducting tube 3. Said tube leads upward and then laterally through the interior of a heating chamber 4 formed within a casing 5 located at a suitable point upon the furnace 1.

Located adjacent to the furnace 1 in posi-' tion to successively present to the discharge end of the tube 3 a plurality of molds is the apparatus which constitutes the main part of the present invention. comprises an upright hollow support or column 41 preferably mounted upon a truck 7.

Carried rigidly by said column is a supportmg flange 8, and rotatably mounted on said flange, as on ball bearings 9- traveling in suitableball races, is the hub portion 10 of a rotary spider-like table which includes a plurallty of radial arms 11 disposed at equidistant intervals. Each of said arms .has

formed on its outer end a vertically disposed sleeve-bearing 12 through which is vertically movable a plunger 13 that has its lower end pivotally mountednpon the outer end of a rocker arm 14. The oppositeend of said rocker arm 14 is pivotally attached to a guide-block 15 which is vertically movable within a socket 16 provided in a vertically disposed boxing 17 formed integral with the hub 10 of the table. Resting upon said guide-block 15 is the lower end of a coil compression Spring 18 which has its upper end seated at the upper end of said socket and which is designed to normally maintain said block in its lowermost position. Said arm 14 carries intermediate its ends a supporting roller 19 which is disposed for travel upon a circular trackway 20 that is suitably supported in a stationary position encircling the support 41.

Rising from each arm 11 adjacent to the outer end thereof is an upright standard 21 which carrier a laterally extending horizontal njng 22. Said ring, which occupies a position overhanging the sleeve-bearing 12 with its central opening in verticalaxial alinement with the plunger 13, has mounted thereon a head-piece 23 provided with an axial bore 24. Said head-piece is detachably secured to said ring, as by means of screws 25.

The upper end of the plunger 13 has a tapered socket 34 adapted to have mounted therein the correspondingly shaped shank 26 of a lower mold or die 27 which has formed in its upper face a shallow depression or cavity 28 having a contour corresponding to that which shall be possessed b the under side of the casting to be forme Said cavity registers with and is comple- Said apparatus the top mold section or die and which coopli hen the ring 22 with the attached mold section 23 occupies the position shown at the left side in Fig. 2, the bore 24 of said section directly underlies the vertically disposed carried by the standard 21.

discharge end of the metal-conducting tube 3, so that metal ejected from said tube is received within said bore. Immediately fol,- lowing rotary movement of the spider-like table to a point where said mold sections have been withdrawn from underlying relation to the mouth of the casing 5, a plunger 30 is actuated to descend over the upper mold section 23 and to project into the bore 24 a close-fitting removable die 31 having a reduced threaded end 31. Displacement of the introduced charge of molten metal is effected by the seating of said die 31 within said'bore 24, to the extent that said metal is caused to fill the cavities 28 and 29 and the interstices thereof for producing the desired form of casting.

Thedie 31 has a tapered shank 32 which is mounted in a tapered socket 33 provided in the end of the plunger 30, Transverse slots 33 and 34 are respectively provided in the plungers 30 and 13 in open communication with the sockets 33 and 34. Tail pieces 26 and 32 formed on the inner ends of the shanks 26 and 32 extend short distances into .said slots 34 and 33, respectively, and are.

adapted to be abutted by a drift pin or other suitable instrument introduced in said slots for dislodging said shanks from their seats, as when it is desired to substitute other dies.

The plunger 30 operates througha vertical divided sleeve-bearin 35 which is disposed in vertically alined relation to the sleeve bearing 12 and which is preferably The upper end of said plunger haspivotally attached thereto the outer end of a rocker-arm 36 which is similar in form to the rocker-arm 14 hereinbefore described. The opposite end of said rocker-arm 36 is pivotally connected to a guide-block 37 which is vertically movable within a socket 38 provided in a cylindrical boxing 39 carried by a vertical sleeve 40 which is rotatable upon the upright tubular column 41. Said guide-block 37 rests upon the upper end of a coil compression spring 42 which is seated within the socket 38. A roller 43 is carried intermediate the ends of the rocker-arm 36 in underlying relation to asemi-circular trackway 44 which is rigidly carried by supporting arms 62 fixed upon the upper end of the column 41. A retractile coil spring or springs 45 are disposed to normally hold the outer end of the rockerarm 36 and, consequently, the plunger 30 in elevated position, said spring being suspended at its upper end from a suitable bracket, as 46, and having its lower end at tached to said rocker-arm, as shown.

The column 41 is stationary, having its lower end suitably mounted on the truck 7. Fixed upon said column, as by means of setscrews 47, is a collar 48, and underlying said collar is a second collar 49 which rests u on the upper face of the table-hub 10. rovided in appropriate positions in the under face of said collar 49 are two channels 50 and 51 of suitable length,.each of which is in the form of the arc of a circle struck from the axial center of the collar. Set-screws 52 carried by the collar 48 are directed downward and have their points disposed in seats provided therefor in the upper face of the collar 49, the same being designed for adjustment to form a close-fitting. joint between the collar 49 and the hub 10. The object had in view in the provision of said channels 50 and 51 will hereinafter be explained.

In thepresent embodiment of the invention, the table has eight radial arms 11 and is consequently rotated in each intermittent movement thereof throughout a distance corresponding to one-eighth of a revolution, thus successively presenting the various molds carried by the table in initial or charge-receiving position with respect to the mouth of the charging tube 3. Each of the plungers 13 occupies its extreme elevated position when the charge-receiving position is assumed, due to the fact that the roller 19, which constitutes a fulcrum for the rockerarm 14, is then ositioned on the most elevated portion of the trackway 20. At the same time the plun er 30 occupies its extreme elevated positlonin which the die 31 carried thereby is withdrawn to a point where it will not interfere with rotation past the charging tube. Said plunger is actuated by the spring 45 to assume its said elevated position, this being permitted because of t e absence of any part of the track- 44 upon that side of the machine.

romptly following the charging operation the table is advanced one-eighth of a revolution, and during the advance movement the plunger 30 is lowered to the position in which the die 31 ,carried thereby is seated in the bore of the underlying upper mold section 23 for displacing the metal of the char e, as hereinbefore'explained, said plunger 'eing actuated by the travel of the adjacent roller 43 beneath the inclined rear end of the trackway 44, which gradually forces the outer end of the rocker-arm 36 downward against the tension of the attached spring 45. This lowered position of throughout a suitable distance, as from the third to the fourth mold station. Said racksegment is positioned to be engaged by a small pinion 56 fixed upon a vertical shaft 57 which is journaled in bearings 58 and 59 formed, respectively, in the upper end of the standard 21 and in a radial arm 60 which connects the upper end of the sleeve-bearing 35 to the adjacent boxing 39. Fixed on said shaft 57 above said pinion 58 is a gear 66 that lies in mesh with a gear or pinion 61 which is loosely splined on the plunger 30 and projects outward through the division formed in the sleeve-bearing 35. As pinion 56 is rotated following its. engagement with the rack-segment 55, rearward or reverse,

rotation is obviously communicated to the plunger 30 and the die 31 for disengaging the threaded end 31 of the latter from the formed casting.

Shortly prior to the disengagement of the die 31 from the casting, effected as afore-- said, the lower plunger 13 is lowered for withdrawing the lower mold section 27 away from the upper moldsection 23. A spout, as 63, is suitably mounted in a stationary position upon an upright support (54 and is located in a position in which it directly underlies the formed casting when the latter is released by the die 31. Said spout is designed to receive the released casting as it falls and to direct the same outward to a suitably located receptacle (not shown). When disengaged from the die 31 the castings will ordinarily adhere to section 23, and means must therefore be provided for dislodging the casting. To accomplish this air is directed downward through the bore 24 of said section 23 with sufiicient force to dislodge such castings. Said air-directing means comprises an airconductiug pipe 62 leading from a source of supply (not shown) to a suitable nozzle (35 which overhan s said spout and between which and said spout the upper mold section moves immediately following the elevation of said plunger 30 and die 31, which elevation occurs instantly following the disengagement of said die. At the proper moment-that is, when the bore 24 directly underlies the downturned mouth of the nozzle 65a blast of air is directed downward fromthe nozzle, said blast being released by the opening of a valve 67 of pop-valve type located at a suitable point in the pipe 62. Said valve isopened at proper intervals by engagement with a pivoted valve-stem-depressing lever 68 carried by the valve casing, of an arm 69, carried by an oscillating supporting element 70.

Said element 70 is of approximately L shape and has the end of its horizontal member pivotally mounted upon a vertically disposed spindle 71 fixed centrally on the under side of the frame of the truck 7. Connected to the upright member of said element 70 through the intermediacy of a suitable joint 72 of universal type is one end of a connecting-rod 73 through which oscillatory movement is communicated to the table for effecting intermittent, or step-bystep, rotation of the latter. The opposite end of said connecting-rod is in like manner connected to a wrist-pin 7e carried by a wheel or disk 75 to which motion is communicated from a belt-driven shaft 76 through suitable gearing, which gearing, as herein illustrated, is also utilized to actuate means for opening and closing the valves by which the flow of metal to and from the receptacle of the mold-charging device of the c -pending application hereinbefore referred to is controlled. Further, said gearing is employed to actuate a lever 77 by which the diaphragm-depressing plunger 2 of said device is lowered at the proper tlmes. As herein shown, said gearing comprises a sprocket wheel 78 fixed on the shaft? 6 and connected by a sprocket chain 79 to a sprocket wheel 80 fixed on the shaft 81 which carries the disk 75.

Pivotally mounted upon the upper end of the upright member of the L-shaped element 70 is a spring-pressed latch 82 which at the extreme limit of the outward thrust of the connecting-rod 73 assumes interlocking engagement with the outer end of one of the" by which said table is actuated to rotate throughout one-eighth of a revolution during the return movement of said connectingrod. At the completion of the rotary movement aforesaid a spring-pressed latch 83 mounted upon a suitable stationary support, as a standard 84 carried by the truck, interlocks with an arm 11 of the table, as by env gagement of its point with a recess or seat 85 provided therefor in said arm, for maintaining the table stationary during the interval preceding the next succeeding advance movement of the table.

Leading through the interior of the column 41 to a point above the position occupied by the collar 48 are two pipes 86 and 87, the former being an air-conducting pipe and the latter a gas-conducting pipe. Said pipes lead outward through opposite sides of said column, thence downward through relatively large openings 88 provided therefor in said collar and have their ends rigidly mounted in the collar 49. The air-conducting pipe 86 opens into the arcuately curved groove or channel 50 provided in the under face of said "collar 49 adjacent to the inner peripheraledge of the latter, and the gasconducting pipe 87 opens into the arcuate -groove or channel 51 provided in the under face of said collar adjacent to the outer peripheral edge of the latter. In the rotation Of the table the ends of air pipes 90 which open upward through the top face of the hub 10 are successively moved into open communication with said channel 50. Said pipes 90 lead outward from said hub along each of the table-arms 11 and carry blast nozzles 91 upon their outer ends adjacent to the upper ends of the sleeve-bearings'12 carried by said arms. Likewise, in the rotation of the table the ends of gas pipes 92 which open upward through the top face of the hub 10 are successively moved into open communication with the channel 51. Said pipes ,92'lead outward along the arms 11 and carry suitable burner nozzles, as 93, ad acent to the upper ends of said sleeve-bearin'gs 12. Said channels 50 and 51 are located at op -osite sides of the collar 49, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. 4

Immediately following the dislodgment of a formed casting from a mold, the pipe 92 leading along" the arm which carries said mold comes into open communication with the outer end of the gas channel 51, and gas is admitted therethrough to the burner nozzle 93 thereof. The gas which then starts to issue from said burner is immediately ig-.

nited by flame from-a suitably located constantly-burning pilot light, as 94. This burner is maintained lighted during the interval in which the mold associated therewith is being advanced to charge-receiving position, and in said interval directs flame against said mold whereby the latter is heated to a high temperature. \Vith the initial advance movement of the mold after being charged, the inner end of. the pipe 92 through which gas is supplied to the'burner 93 which is associated therewith passes out of communication with the channel 51 and cuts off the supply of gas to said burner. Promptly following the cutting off of the gas supply, as aforesaid, the air pipe 90 leading along the arm which carries the mold which has just been charged comes into open communication with the adjacent endof the air channel 50, and air is admitted therethrough and issues from the nozzle 91 thereof in the form of a blast which plays upon said mold for rapidly coolingthe latter and the formed charge.

- The air continues to play upon said mold until. at a point adjacent to the castingejecting point, said pipe 90 passes out of ed to admit of the passage of flame from the burners for heating purposes and the passa e of air for cooling purposes.

lVhat is claimed is 1. The combination with means for delivering charges of molten metal, of an automatic casting-producing apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of radially disposed members carried by said support, molds carried by said members, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with respect to said'delivery means, reciprocating means for forcing the metal of the introduced charges throughout the mold cavities to give form to the castings, said means being automatically actuated by rotation of said support and remaining in operative position during a portion of the travel of said molds, means for pre-heating the molds, and means for artificially cooling said molds and the metal of the castings following the forming operation.

2. The combination with means for delivering charges of molten metal, of an automatic casting-producing apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of radially disposed members carried by said support, molds carried by said members, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with respect to said delivery means, means reciprocable with respect to said molds to compress the metal of the introduced charges throughout the mold cavities for giving form to the castings, said means continuing in compressing posir tion throughout a part of the rotation of said support, means for pre-heating said molds, and means for artificially cooling said molds and the metal of the shaped castings following the forming operation and prior to withdrawal of said compressing means.

3. The combination with means for delivering charges of molten metal, of an automatic casting-prodiicing apparatus comprising a rotary column, a plurality of radially disposed members carried by said column, molds carried by saidmembers. means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said column for successively posithyning said molds with respect to said delivery means, means movable into said molds for compressing the introduced charges throughout the mold cavities to give form to the castings, means for preheating said molds, means for artificially cooling said molds and the contained castings, said coolingmeans acting throughout a predetermined interval following the forming 0pcration, and rotary means for withdrawing said compressing means near the end of the cooling interval.

4. The combination with means for periodically delivering "charges of molten metal, 'of an automatic casting-producing apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds carried by said support, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with respect to said delivery means, means operating to compress the metal of the introduced charges throughout the mold cavities for giving form to the castings, said compressing means being adapted to remain in operative position throughout a predetermined interval, means for artifically cooling said molds and the contained castings following the compressing operation, and rotary means for withdrawing said compressing means following a cooling interval.

The combination with means for pcriodically delivering charges of molten metal, of an automatic casting-producing apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds carried by said support, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with respect to said delivery means, means operating to compress the metal of the introduced charges throughout the mold cavities for giving form to the castings, said compressing means being adapted to remain in operative position throughout a predetermined portion of the rotation, means for artificially cooling said molds and the contained castings following the compressingoperation, rotary means operating during rotation of said support and following a cooling interval whereby said compressing means is detached from the castings, and means for dislodging the castings from the molds.

(S. The combination with means for periodically delivering charges of molten metal, of an automatic casting-producing apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds carried by said support, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted o said support for successively positioning said molds with respect to said delive'rv means, means operating to compress the metal of the introduced charges throughout the mold cavities for giving form to the castings, said compressing means be ng adapted to remain in operative position tln'oaghout a predetermined interval, means for artificially cooling said molds and the contained castings following the compressing operation, means for withdrawing said compressing means following a cooling interval, means for opening the molds, and means for dislodging the castings from the molds.

T. The combination with means for periodically delivering charges of molten metal, of an automatic casting-producing apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds carried by said support, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with respect to said delivery means, means for preheating said molds, means operating to compress the metal of the introduced charges throughout the mold cavities for giving form to the castings, said compressing means being held in operative position throughout a predetermined portion of the rotation, means for directing blasts of air upon said molds for cfl'ecting the rapid cooling of the latter and the contained castings following the compressing operation, means for withdrawing said compressing means following an inter val of cooling, and means for opening and closing the molds at predeterminedintervals.

8. The combination with means for periodically delivering charges of molten metal, of an apparatus for casing threaded metal caps for collapsible ubes and the like, said apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of sectional molds carried by said support, means for opening and closing the mold sections at predetermined intervals, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with respect to said delivery means, means movable into said molds to compress the metal of the introduced charges throughout the mold cavities for giving form to the castings, said compressing means having thereon matrix threads upon which the threads of the castings are shaped, means for artificially cool-- ing said molds and the contained castings following the compressing operation, means for rotating said compressing means in a reverse direction for disengaging the same from the cooled casting, and means for. withdrawing the disengaged compressing means from the mold.

9. The combination with means for periodically delivering charges of molten metal, of an apparatus for casting threaded metal caps for collapsible tubes and the like, said apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds each comprising upper and lower sections carried by said support, the lower sections being movable at predetermined intervals into and out of cooperative relation to the upper sections, the upper section of each mold having a vertical bore therein, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with the 'bores thereof in underlying relation to said caps for collapsible tubes and the like, said apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds each comprising upper and lower sections carried by said support, the lower' sections being movable at predetermined intervals into and out of cooperative relation to the upper sections, the upper section of each mold having a vertical bore therein, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with the bores thereof in underlying relation to said delivery means, a plunger movable vertically with respect to each mold and carrying a part which enters the bore of the mold for compressing the metal of the introduced charge to give form to the casting, said boreentering part having matrix threads upon which the threads of the casting are formed, and means for rotating said plunger to disengage the threaded part from the casting.

11. The combination with means tor periodically delivering charges of molten metal, of an apparatus for casting threaded metal caps for collapsible tubes and the like, said apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds each comprising upper and lower sections carried by said support, the lower sections being movable at predetermined intervals into and out of cooperative relation to the upper sections, the upper section of each mold having a vertical bore therein, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to.said support for successively ositioning said molds with the bores thereo in underlying relation to said delivery means, a plunger movable vertically with respect to each mold and carrying a part which enters the bore of the mold for compressing the metzrl of the introduced charge to give form to the casting, said boreentering part having matrix threads upon which the threads of the casting are formed, means for rotating said plungerto disengage the threaded part from the casting, and means for artificially cooling the mold and the contained casting prior to the withdrawal of said threaded part.

12. The combination with means for periodically delivering charges of molten metal, of an apparatus for casting threaded metal -aps for collapsible tubes and the like, said apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds each comprising upper and lower sections carried by said support,

the lower sections being movable at prede-- enters the bore of the mold for compressing the metal of the introduced charge to give form to the casting, said compressing part having matrix threads upon which the threads of the casting are formed. and means for rotating said plunger to disengage the matrix threads from the casting.

13. The combination with means for periodically delivering charges of molton metal. of an apparatus for casting threaded metal caps for collapsible tubes and the like, said apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds each comprising upper and lower sections carried by said support, the lower sections being movable at predetermined intervals into and out of cooperative relation to the upper sections, the upper section of each mold having a vertical bore therein, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with the bores thereof in underlying relation to said delivery means, means forpre-heating said molds, a plunger movable vertically with respect to each mold and carrying a part which enters the bore of the mold for-compressing the metal of the introduced charge to give form to the casting, said compressing part having matrix threads upon which the threads of the casting are formed. means for artificially cooling the mold and the contained casting while the compressing part remains engaged with the casting. and means for producing reverse rotation of said plunger to disengage the matrix threads-of said part from the casting.

14. The combination with means for periodically delivering charges of molten metal.

of an apparatus for casting threaded metal caps for collapsible tubes and the like. said apparatus comprising a rotary support. a plurality of molds each comprising upper and lower sections carried by said support. the lowersections being movable at predetermined intervals into and out of cooperative relation to the upper sections. the upper section of each mold having a vertical bore therein, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with the bores thereof in underlying relation to said delivery means, means for pre-heating said molds, a plunger movable vertically with respect to each mold and carrying a part which enters the bore of the mold for compressing the metal of the introduced charge to give form to the casting, said compressing part having matrix threads upon which the threads of the casting are formed, means for artificially cooling the mold and the contained casting while the compressing part remains engaged with the casting, means for producing reverse rotation of said plunger to disengage the matrix threads of said part from the casting and means for withdrawing one of the mold sections from cooperative relation to the other to release the casting.

15. The combination with means for periodically delivering chargesof molten metal. of an apparatus for casting threaded metal caps for collapsible tubes and the like, said apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds each comprising upper and lower sections carried by said support, the lower sections being movable at predetermined inter 'als into and out of cooperative relation to the upper sections. the upper section of each mold having a wertical bore therein, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with the bores thereof in underlying relation to said delivery lmeans, means for pre-heating said molds, a plunger movable vertically with respect to each mold and carrying a part which enters the bore of the mold for compressing the metal of the introduced charge to give form to the casting, said compressing part having matrix threads upon which the threads of the casting are formed, means for artificially cooling the mold and the contained casting while the compressing part remains engaged with the casting,

means for producing reverse rotation of.

said plunger to disengage the matrix threads of said part from the casting, means for withdrawing one of the mold sections from cooperative relation to the other to release the casting and means for dislodging the released casting.

It The combination with means for periodically delivering charges of molten metal. of an apparatus for casting threaded metal caps for collapsible tubes and the like. said apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds each comprising upper and lower sections carried by said support. the lower sections being movable at predetermined intervals into and out of cooperative relation to the upper sections. the upper section of each mold having a vertical bore therein. means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with the bores thereof in underlying relation to said. delivery means, a plunger movable vertically with respect to each mold and carrying a part which enters the bore of the mold for compressing the metal of the introduced charge to give form to the casting, said boreentering part having matrix threads upon which the threads of the casting are formed, means for rotating said plunger to disengage the threaded part from the casting, gas-conducting means including passages adapted to be opened and closed at predetermined intervals in the travel of said molds, a gas burner located adjacent to each of said molds. means for igniting gas issuing from said burners, said burners being adapted to direct blasts of flame against said molds for pre-heating the latter, and means for artificially cooling the molds and the contained castings during the interval between the compressing operation and the disengagement of the plunger from the casting.

17. The combination with means for periodically delivering charges of molten metal, of an apparatus forv casting threaded. metal caps for collapsible tubes and the like, said apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds each comprising upper and lower sections carried by said support, the lower sections being movable at predetermined intervals into and out of cooperative relation to the upper sections, the upper section of each mold having a vertical bore therein. means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for successively positioning said molds with the bores thereof in underlying relation to said delivery means, a plunger movable vertically with respect to each mold and carrying a part which enters the bore of the mold for compressing the metal of the introduced charge to give form to the casting. said boreentering part having matrix threads upon which the threads of the casting are formed. means for rotating said plunger to disengage the threaded part from the casting, gas-conducting means including passages adapted to be opened and closed at predetermined intervals in the travel of said molds. a gas burner located adjacent to each of said molds. means for igniting gas issuing from said burners. said burners being adapted to direct blasts of flame against said molds for pre-heating the latter. and means for directing cooling blasts of air against the molds during the interval between the compressing operation and the disengagement of the plunger from the casting.

18. The combination with means for periodically delivering charges of molten metal. of an apparatus for casting threaded metal caps for collapsible tubes and the like, said apparatus comprising a rotary support, a plurality of molds each comprising upper and lower sections carried by said support, the lower sections being movable at predetermined intervals into and out of cooperative relation to the upper sections, the upper seLtion ofieach mold having a vertical bore therein, means whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to said support for, successively positioning said molds with the bores thereof in underlying relation to said delivery means, a plunger movable vertically with respect to each mold and carrying a part which enters the bore of the mold for compressing the metal of the introduced charge to give form to the casting, said bore-entering part having matrix threads upon which the threads of the casting are formed, means for rotating said plunger to disengage the threaded part from the casting, gas-conducting means including pasdetermined intervals in the travel of said molds, a gas burner located adjacent to each of said molds, means for igniting gas issuing from said burners,'said burners being adapted to direct blasts of flame against said molds for pre-heating the latter, and means for directing cooling blasts of air against the molds duringthe interval between the compressing operation and the disengagement of the plunger from the casting. said cooling means comprising air-conducting passages adapted to be opened and closed at predetermined intervals.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD T. McGEE.

'itnesses H. E. DUNLAP, THos. J. Honor. 

